--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great Norwegian playwright, Henrik…" description: "\"The great Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, wrote, \"One of these days, the younger generation will come knocking at my door.\" The future is knocking ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/al-gore-609_asks_the-great-norwegian-playwright-henrik-ib_686062.jpg" --- # The great Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, wrote, "One… ![“The great Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, wrote, "One of these days, the younger generation will come knocking at my door." The future is knocking at our door right now. Make no mistake, the next generation will ask us one of two questions. Either they will ask: "What were you thinking; why…” quote by Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/al-gore-609_asks_the-great-norwegian-playwright-henrik-ib_686062.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/al-gore-609_asks_the-great-norwegian-playwright-henrik-ib_686062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/al-gore-609_asks_the-great-norwegian-playwright-henrik-ib_686062.jpg) > “The great Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, wrote, "One of these days, the younger generation will come knocking at my door." The future is knocking at our door right now. Make no mistake, the next generation will ask us one of two questions. Either they will ask: "What were you thinking; why didn't you act?" Or they will ask instead: "How did you find the moral courage to rise and successfully resolve a crisis that so many said was impossible to solve?” [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Future generations will judge us by our actions and moral courage in crises. **In simple terms:** Future will judge our actions. Key Takeaway Act with courage now. Themes responsibility leadership future generations Mood determined urgent Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - community organizing - personal choices - business strategy Key Concepts ethical decision‑making civic duty climate action Questions to Reflect On - What crisis will you confront? - How can you inspire moral courage? A Different Perspective People may lack resources or power to act. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-courage/) [Next generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-generation/) [Playwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playwright/) [Resolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolve/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Younger generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/younger-generation/) ## Related quotes > [“To my generation has now come the challenge. In the days to come we will be tested on whether we have the moral courage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/to-my-generation-has-now-come-the-challenge-in-the-days-to-come-we/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Every generation has to ask difficult questions about what does it mean to follow Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/every-generation-has-to-ask-difficult-questions-about-what-does-it/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Perhaps a good resolution for the new year would be to keep asking what world we want to pass on to the next generation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/perhaps-a-good-resolution-for-the-new-year-would-be-to-keep-asking/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [It's sometimes comical to hear the younger generation ask their peers to repeat themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/it-s-sometimes-comical-to-hear-the-younger-generation-ask-their-peers/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [A day will come when our children and grandchildren will look back and they'll ask one of two questions. Either they will ask: "what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/a-day-will-come-when-our-children-and-grandchildren-will-look-back/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [You have to have a canon so the next generation can come along and explode it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/you-have-to-have-a-canon-so-the-next-generation-can-come-along-and/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [The family unit plays a critical role in our society and in the training of the generation to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-family-unit-plays-a-critical-role-in-our-society-and-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The younger generation will come knocking at my door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/the-younger-generation-will-come-knocking-at-my-door/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Yesterday are far different from today and the generation to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/yesterday-are-far-different-from-today-and-the-generation-to-come/) Mega > [If we become tow people-the suburban affluent and the urban poor, each filled with mistrust and fear of the other-then we shall effectively cripple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/if-we-become-tow-people-the-suburban-affluent-and-the-urban-poor-each/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Mine is, after all, the generation that had come to maturity drinking in the forebodings of the Silones, Koestlers, and Richard Wrights. It had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-hansberry/mine-is-after-all-the-generation-that-had-come-to-maturity-drinking/) [Lorraine Hansberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-hansberry/) > [It's very difficult to fill the shoes of somebody like Rahul Bhai. He has set the bench mark for a generation to come. However,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-raina/it-s-very-difficult-to-fill-the-shoes-of-somebody-like-rahul-bhai-he/) [Suresh Raina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-raina/) > [“We're the most aggressively inarticulate generation to come along since, you know, a long time ago!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-mali/we-re-the-most-aggressively-inarticulate-generation-to-come-along/) [Taylor Mali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-mali/) > [“The beat generation is a coffeehouse full of people expectantly looking at their watches waiting for the beat generation to come on. \*1958”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/the-beat-generation-is-a-coffeehouse-full-of-people-expectantly/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Lord help us, my generation come to an end. Cause we all selfish, but livin' shallow, how we gon' swim?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/lord-help-us-my-generation-come-to-an-end-cause-we-all-selfish-but/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) ## More by Al Gore > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Mother Nature does not do bailouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/mother-nature-does-not-do-bailouts/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-climate-crisis-is-not-a-political-issue-it-is-a-moral-and/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-decided-to-pick-the-diet-that-i-thought-would-maximize-my-chances/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [You know there's an old african proverb that i made up: "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/you-know-there-s-an-old-african-proverb-that-i-made-up-if-you-want-to/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [One tragic example of the loss of forests and then water is found in Ethiopia. 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Because he was entertaining,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/when-you-talk-about-president-trump-the-cable-networks-turned-over-so/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/iraq-does-pose-a-serious-threat-to-the-stability-of-the-persian-gulf/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Our civilization is experiencing unprecedented changes across many realms, largely due to the rapid advancement of information technology. The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are many who would much prefer that the word 'climate' never be mentioned and that the issue be eliminated from our national conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-many-who-would-much-prefer-that-the-word-climate-never-be/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [As many know, the Chinese expression for "crisis" consists of two characters side by side. The first is the symbol for "danger," the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-many-know-the-chinese-expression-for-crisis-consists-of-two/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I think George W. Bush has a warm, engaging personality. But, you know, the presidency is more than just a popularity contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-think-george-w-bush-has-a-warm-engaging-personality-but-you-know/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) [Explore all 447 Al Gore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The great Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, wrote, \"One of these days, the younger generation will come knocking at my door.\" The future is knocking at our door right now. Make no mistake, the next generation will ask us one of two questions. 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